Youth Leadership

Application for Family and Youth Representative

Missouri Transformation efforts to promote and support young people who desire to be a voice and a force for mental health issues in the state has resulted in the publication of The Missouri Youth Movement Transforming Youth Involvement Through Youth Voice in Public Policy, a report that outlines the value of a youth voice in the formation of public policy. Fifteen young people from all regions of the state, had a hand in the development of this document.

Missouri is working with youth consultants from the state of Washington to establish a state Youth Leadership Initiative.  An initial planning meeting, held August 13, 2008, hosted 12 young people representing all regions of the state. Membership is comprised of both youths who receive mental health services and those who do not. Selecting the name Missouri Youth REACH (Responding through Empowerment and Action to Create Communities of Hope), the group discussed its role in providing leadership to give youths a voice in mental health programming.

Parents and guardians also are involved, discussing in separate sessions their leadership and support roles for their children. Young people and adults alike were excited with the outcomes and plan to have regular meetings to get an organization off the ground. For more information on this initiative or to find out how to get involved, send a note to transformation@dmh.mo.gov.